How music-savvy are you? Do you know the words to the famous song American Pie? Sing along: “Did you write the Book of Love? Do you have faith in God above? Do you believe in Rock and Roll? Can music save your mortal soul?” Interesting words. One of the virtues of being made in God’s image is that we can appreciate good music. No doubt you enjoy listening to a catchy tune, but have you ever taken the time to thank God for the fact that you’re not deaf? To be able to hear is an unspeakable blessing.
Do you love the vivid colors of flowers and birds on this amazing planet on which we live? Then thank God that you can feast your eyes on all this color. Count your blessings. Thank Him that you are not blind. If you suddenly go blind, science can’t do a thing for you. It hasn’t a clue how to even begin to make an eye. Where do you start? What would you use? Where do you gather the 137,000,000 light sensitive cells? How do you make focusing muscles that move 100,000 times a day?
Do you enjoy good food? Then thank God that you are not starving to death in some African country, lying on the ground with flies crawling across your face. God has been good to you. He hasn’t treated you according to your sins. We can read, think, feel and love, and it’s a sad fact of human nature that familiarity does breed contempt. We don't know what we've got, until it's gone. The truth is, most of us have been given a generous slice of the American pie.
Do you love life? Then thank God that you haven’t yet died in your sins and been damned from all of His future goodness. It’s not too late for you to repent and trust the Savior. And make sure you don’t fall into the trap of superficial thanksgiving. Thanksgiving without obedience to God is nothing but empty hypocrisy. Prove that you are genuine in your appreciation of His goodness, by obedience to His Word (see John 14:21 for further details).
Now, sing along, "This could be the day that I die; this could be the day that I die . . . "
Sunday, January 20, 2008
American Pie
